When and how do I clean the Black Berkey filter elements?

Black Berkey filter elements do not necessarily need to be cleaned every time you clean the Berkey water filter housing (lower and upper container). However, this may vary depending on the area and water source. In some areas of the world, the water is much dirtier than in others and it will be necessary to clean the elements more often; possibly even more than cleaning the rest of the system requires. If your water is muddy or very dirty, we recommend pre-filtering the water by running it through some kind of cloth, e.g.: shirt, sheet, bandana, etc. before filling the Berkey water filter with it. Although not necessary, this keeps the element cleaning schedule low by trapping dirt that may clog the pores of your Black Berkey filter elements.

When is it time to clean your filters?

• Cleaning the elements should be done when you experience a drastic reduction in flow rate.
• You can also consider cleaning the elements periodically. For example, every 6 months (CAUTION!!! Never more often than once every 6 months, if you do not experience a reduction in flow rate). The advantage of this is that you will therefore not experience a slow flow rate. Cleaning elements on a regular schedule is at your own discretion. This is a suggestion, not an obligation.

How do you clean the filters?

1. Empty your Berkey water filter and disassemble the Black Berkey filter elements.
2. Using a scouring pad or a hard brush, gently scrub the outside of the Black Berkey filter elements under cold running water.
3. Prime the filters again. If you are not familiar with this process, check out our instructional videos.
4. Reinstall the Black Berkey filter elements in the Berkey water filter.
5. Finally, fill your Berkey water filter and, if necessary, perform a red dye test as described in the instructional videos, to ensure that the Black Berkey filter elements are still effective.